Chapter 183

-Ava’s POV-

My eyes widened, and my entire body froze. It was as if the world itself had paused, holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. My heart pounded in my chest, loud and frantic, drowning out every other sound.

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Of all the things I could have let slip out of my mouth, it had to be that. The words hung in the air, echoing in my mind like a taunt I couldn’t escape. My lips parted, as though I might say something to fix it, but nothing came out. What could I say?

I just told him I loved him.

I knew it already, of course. I’d known for a while now. But saying it–saying it out loud–made it real in a way it hadn’t been before. It was as though my heart had spoken for me, betraying the secret I’d tried so hard to keep hidden.

And now, everything was different.

My chest tightened with uncertainty, and a thousand thoughts swirled in my mind, each more chaotic than the last. Did he feel the same? Would he ever feel the same? Or did I just ruin everything between us?

What was I supposed to do?

. happen?

Should I brush it off like it did

Laugh it away as a joke?

Should I take it back and lie, saying I didn’t mean it?

Or should I just admit it and let the chips fall where they may?

The silence stretched on, suffocating and unbearable.

And then, his voice shattered it.

“I would’ve waited for you to finish whatever discussion you’re having with yourself in your head,” he said, his tone light and teasing, “but I’m not sure you’re actually breathing anymore.”

His words jolted me back to reality. I sucked in a sharp breath, realizing that I hadn’t been breathing. My lungs burned, my chest heaving as I tried to steady myself.

I was terrified to look at him. Terrified of what I might see in his eyes. Would it be rejection? Confusion? Pity?

But when I finally dared to meet his gaze, I was met

He was smiling.

With something entirely unexpected.

My heart skipped a beat, the rhythm faltering as I tried to make sense of his reaction.

about medicine, but I’m pretty sure a fresh wound like

action. My hands, which had been hovering uselessly, remembered their task. I grabbed

Jan 31 BB

Chapter 183

wouldn’t stop

he so

out

he… repulsed?

he

Why?

breaking through the storm of thoughts in my head, “you’re not breathing again.”

I snapped.

about this. You’re making me freak out even more!”

you freaking out in the first place?” he asked, tilting

the gauze. “Because,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, “I just said I

truth I couldn’t take back. My voice cracked as I

reaction, but he just watched me,

in the air. “I’m scared that you’re going to be mad, or that this will ruin everything between us, and then I’ll have no choice but to move to Alaska. And then I’ll get eaten by bears, and I don’t even know what

sniffled, my voice trembling as tears welled up in my eyes. “And now I’m crying, and I don’t even

reached out, gentle but firm, tilting my chin up so I had no choice but to look at

then he

shared before. This

words never could. It was a promise. A silent acknowledgment of feelings he wasn’t ready to put into words. Even though he had but

blur as the

terrifying. It

ment, it

like the world had stopped again–but

eyes, and what I saw there mirrored the unspoken words in the kiss.

nodded, letting him know I understood,

he gently wiped away a tear I hadn’t realized had slipped down my cheek. His smile turned into a grin, his voice laced with

Chapter 183

I grumbled,

myself. Shaking my

was done, I stepped back and crossed my arms, looking at him critically. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

light, but there was a mischievous

single step, his hand

he said, his voice low

in, trailing soft kisses down my neck. A giggle escaped my lips, and I tried to scoot away, but

stop!“. I protested, laughing. “You’re injured, remember?”

side,” he murmured against my skin, his

just got shot,” I said firmly,

his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of my neck. I gasped,

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